Application head comprising movable cutting system and clamping system

Abstract

An application head, comprising an application system, guiding means defining a guiding plane, a cutting system comprising a first cutting tool movable in translation and a second cutting tool, and a clamping system comprising a first clamping tool movable in translation and a second clamping tool. A first control means is able to displace the cutting tools together between initial and final cutting positions representing a variation in distance along the guiding plane and a second control means is able to displace the clamping tools together between initial and final clamping positions representing a variation in distance along the guiding plane.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. Application head especially designed for producing composite material parts, comprising an application system, guiding means defining a guiding plane, a cutting system and a clamping system, the cutting system comprising a first cutting tool movable in translation along a cutting direction and a second cutting tool, the clamping system comprising a first clamping tool movable in translation along a clamping direction and a second clamping tool, comprising a first control means able to displace said cutting tools together between initial and final cutting positions representing a variation in distance along the guiding plane and comprising a second control means, distinct from the first control means, able to displace said clamping tools together between initial and final clamping positions representing a variation in distance along the guiding plane. 
     
     
       2. Application head according to  claim 1 , wherein said first control means is an integrated control means able to displace the first cutting tool along the cutting direction and to displace together said cutting tools between said initial and final positions. 
     
     
       3. Application head according to  claim 2 , wherein the integrated control means is able to displace the first cutting tool and the second cutting tool in translation along the cutting direction between inactive positions and active positions. 
     
     
       4. Application head according to  claim 3 , wherein the integrated control means comprises a control lever movable around a first rotation axis and provided with a first lever arm articulated to a first tool holder carrying the first cutting tool and a second lever arm articulated, by means of a link, to a second tool holder carrying the second cutting tool, said second lever arm being controlled in displacement by a cylinder rod, said first blade holder being articulated to a second rotation axis by means of a link and said first and second tool holders being connected together by a sliding connecting means for sliding along the cutting direction. 
     
     
       5. An application head according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cutting tool comprises a first blade provided with a bevel defining a first cutting edge and the second cutting tool comprises a second blade provided with a bevel defining a second cutting edge, said bevels being opposed to allow an overlapping of said cutting edges. 
     
     
       6. Application head according to  claim 1 , wherein said second control means for the clamping tools is a control means for controlling in translation along the guide plane. 
     
     
       7. Application head according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping system comprises a third control means able to displace a first clamping tool along a clamping direction. 
     
     
       8. Application head according to  claim 7 , wherein the first and second clamping tools are both movable along the clamping direction between respective inactive positions and active positions, said third control means being able to displace the first clamping tool and the second clamping tool in translation along the cutting direction between the inactive positions and the active positions. 
     
     
       9. An application head according to  claim 8 , wherein it comprises stripper means fixed along the clamping direction in positions with respect to which said respective inactive positions of the clamping tools are set back. 
     
     
       10. Application head according to  claim 9 , wherein said second control means able to displace said clamping tools together is also able to displace the stripper means in translation along the guide plane. 
     
     
       11. Method for manufacturing a composite material part comprising the application of continuous fibers to an application surface, wherein the application of fibers is carried out by means of a fiber application head according to  claim 1 , by relative displacement of the application head with respect to the layup surface along layup trajectories.